German General Message to Russia: Don't you dare attack us

Germany is able to lead NATO troops “in the right place” on the eastern side if necessary and Russia should not dare attack. So a senior military official in Berlin has suggested.

Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank, head of the German Army's Joint Operations Command in Berlin, told Reuters that defence cannot be “delegised” Only armed forces. It was essential to have a society that was flexible and powerful enough to overcome difficulties. “This is an important part of prevention.“, Solfrank said.

“Germany's Operation Plan is, on the one hand, a plan we can activate tomorrow if necessary. This is very important to know. Second, it is very important to understand that the Germany Operation Plan is there to ensure that we can move NATO troops, international troops, through Germany as quickly, as efficiently and as regularly as possible at the right location on the east wing, so that we can send another signal to Russia. Be careful, don't dare attack us, we're prepared.”, General Alexander Solfrank said.

The German general cited Ukraine's example of guarding state functions during wartime, where schools remained open, bread ovens continued operations and industries continued despite threats. The general echoed similar calls by senior NATO military officials, who urged public and private actors to prepare for an era at which everything could happen at any time, including fighting a war.

“So to understand the concept of defense, it is very important to realize that protection cannot be delegated to armed forces. If the armed forces do this, I don't have to worry about it, they'll take care of it. Of course, that doesn't work. Instead, it is very important to have a stable, powerful society that can cope with challenges. This also has an extraordinary preventative effect. When I see Ukraine, Ukraine is functioning as a state, even though it has been subjected to mass attacks for three and a half years.”

In the context of an ongoing debate in Germany on how to achieve higher numbers of recruits for the Bundeswehr Armed Forces, Sollfrank said: “We need a lot more, and I think military service is a very important part of this.”

A mandatory military service for men who could be replaced by civil service for those who refused to join the army was banned in Germany in 2011. European armies have stepped up preparations for a possible conflict with Moscow following Russia's war against Ukraine, amid warnings from NATO that Russia may be able to carry out a large-scale attack on allied territory since 2029. /Periscope/